Grandparents scams are a type of fraud that targets elderly individuals, often through phone calls or emails. The scammer will pretend to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money, often claiming to be in a desperate situation or in trouble with the law. The scammer will ask the grandparent to wire money or provide financial information in order to help out and may use emotional manipulation or threats to convince the grandparent to comply.
Examples of Grandparents Scams
Here are a few examples of grandparents scams:
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- A grandparent receives a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild. The scammer says that they are in trouble and need money to pay for legal fees or bail. The grandparent wires the money, only to later find out that their grandchild was never in trouble and that they have been scammed.
- A grandparent receives an email from someone claiming to be their grandchild. The scammer says that they are traveling abroad and have lost their wallet, passport, and other important documents. They ask the grandparent to wire money so that they can pay for new documents and return home. The grandparent wires the money, but the grandchild was never abroad and the email was a scam.
- A grandparent receives a phone call from someone claiming to be a government official or a representative of a charitable organization. The scammer says that the grandparent’s grandchild has been in an accident or is in some other sort of trouble, and asks for money to help out. The grandparent wires the money, but later finds out that the call was a scam and that their grandchild was never in any sort of trouble.
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NEVER GET SCAMMED AGAIN!
Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
How Grandparents Scams Work
Grandparents scams often rely on emotional manipulation and fear in order to convince the grandparent to send money or provide financial information. The scammer may use a fake name or pretend to be a grandchild or other family member in need of help, and may use urgent or threatening language to convince the grandparent to comply.
For example, the scammer may claim that their grandchild is in jail and needs money for bail, or that they are stranded in a foreign country and need money to pay for a plane ticket home. The scammer may also use a fake accent or impersonate a government official in order to seem more convincing.
Grandparents scams can involve scammers asking for money or financial information. They may claim the money is for legal fees, medical expenses, or emergency expenses.
They may also use personal information to seem convincing. For example, family members’ names or details about the grandchild’s life are obtained through social media or other sources.
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Scammers never stop devising schemes to separate us from our hard-earned money. So, make sure to sign up for our weekly email scam alerts. TotalScam!™ Alert will notify you as soon new scams are discovered.
How to Protect Yourself from Grandparents Scams
Be wary of phone calls or emails from someone claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money.
Do not wire money or provide financial information to someone you do not know, even if they claim to be a grandchild or other family member.
If you receive a phone call or email from someone claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money, take the time to verify their identity before sending any money or providing financial information.
If you are unsure about the authenticity of a phone call or email, try to verify the identity of the sender through other means, such as calling a family member or contacting the grandchild directly using a phone number or email address that you know is legitimate.
Grandparents Scam Blacklist
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FAQ
Grandparents scams are a type of fraud that targets elderly individuals, often through phone calls or emails. The scammer will pretend to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money, often claiming to be in a desperate situation or trouble with the law.
Grandparents scams often rely on emotional manipulation and fear in order to convince the grandparent to send money or provide financial information. The scammer may use a fake name or pretend to be a grandchild or other family member in need of help, and may use urgent or threatening language to convince the grandparent to comply.
To protect yourself or a loved one from grandparents scams, be wary of phone calls or emails from someone claiming to be a grandchild or other family member in need of money. Do not wire money or provide financial information to someone you do not know, even if they claim to be a grandchild or other family member. If you are unsure about the authenticity of a phone call or email, try to verify the identity of the sender through other means, such as calling a family member or contacting the grandchild directly using a phone number or email address that you know is legitimate.
If you believe that you have fallen victim to a grandparents scam, report it to the appropriate authorities and take steps to protect your personal and financial information. This may include changing your passwords, monitoring your accounts for unusual activity, and contacting your bank or credit card company to report the incident.
While antivirus software can help protect your device from malware and other threats, it is not a foolproof defense against grandparents scams. These scams typically involve social engineering tactics, such as emotional manipulation or impersonation, which are not detected by antivirus software.
It’s generally not a good idea to wire money to someone you do not know, even if they claim to be a grandchild or other family member. If you receive a request for money from a grandchild or other family member, take the time to verify their identity before sending any money or providing financial information.
- There are a few steps you can take to help protect your elderly loved ones from grandparents scams:
- Educate them about these types of scams and how they work.
- Encourage them to verify the identity of anyone requesting money or financial information, even if they claim to be a grandchild or other family member.
- Consider setting up a joint bank account or power of attorney so that you can monitor their financial activity and protect them from fraud.
If you believe that you or a loved one has fallen victim to a grandparents scam, you should report it to the appropriate authorities. This may include contacting your local police department, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). You can also report the scam to the financial institution where the money was wired, as they may be able to help you recover the funds.
It’s important to report grandparents scams to the authorities, as this helps law enforcement agencies track and investigate these types of fraud. By reporting a grandparents scam, you can help protect yourself and others from falling victim to these types of attacks.
Attention: Consumers who have been contacted by scammers could have had their personal information breached. TotalScam!™ highly recommends that consumers whose information has been breached obtain an identity theft protection service immediately.
There are several companies that offer identity theft protection in the US. One of the most inexpensive options we were able to find is the protection offered by LifeLock. You can start your protection here.
Disclaimer: The information and opinions contained on this site are not endorsed by LifeLock. TotalScam!™ receives compensation from LifeLock. This helps support our scam prevention efforts.
Our investigations into Common Scams of 2024
